Steerable tail skid for aeroplanes



Feb. 4, 1930. G. QUERRY Y STEERABLE TAIL SKID FOR AEROPLANES 2 Sheets-Shet Filed March 15, 1929 Inventor A tiomey Feb. 4, 1930. I QUERRY 1,745,808

STEERABLE TAIL SKID FOR AEROPLANES Filed March 15, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet: 2

15 of ready development of defects. lower portion of the leg 13, and the upper 65 v .50 ends of the lever 6 to suitable controlmeans vertical shaft arranged within the tail por- Patented Feb. 4, 1930' i UNITE-D STATESPATENT OFFICE LESTER GUY QUERRY, OF HUNTINGDON, PENNSYLVANIA STEERABLE 'lA-IL SKID ron AnRorLANEs Application filed March 15, 1929. Serial No. 347,358.

,The presentinvention relates broadly to located within the cockpit of the fuselage. improvements in aeronautics and more par- The lowermost collar 7 is adapted for rest ticularly to a novel tail skid for aeroplanes. upon the bearing body 9, which is supported The specific aim of this invention is to proupon the lower portion of the fuselage 3,

vide an improved tail skid, connected in such in substantially the manner shown in Figure 55 a manner with the usual'rudder mechanism 2. ,The bearing 9 has the sleeve 10 disposed of the aeroplane whereby thetail skid will therethrough and the sleeve 10, in turn, return with the motion of the rudder to asc eives the lower portion of the rudder shaft sist in steering the' aeroplane when taxiing 5 and is suitably secured thereto. 10 upon the ground. The sleeve 10 has a curved depending end 60 v The principal object of this invention is 11 secured to its lower end, and the lower to provide a steerable tail skid for aeroplanes end of the curved member 11 is pivotally which, in use, will not tend to complicate connected as at 12 to a leg 13. A shock abaeroplane construction, nor be susceptible sorbing device 14 is interposed between the Another object of importance is to provide portion of the curved arm 11 in substanan aeroplane construction including novel tially the manner shown in Figure 1. A I steering means and a novel construction of stream line and substantially conical shaped the fuselage, whereby the novel steering tail section 15 is hingedly connected as at mechanism may be rea ily inspected. I 16, to the lower portion of the rear, end of These and other objects of the invention the fuselage 3, suitable means, (not shown will become more apparent to the reader in the drawings) being provided for:seafter considering the invention as described curing the upper portion of the section 15 and claimed hereinafter. to the fuselage 3. Obviously, numerous 2 In the drawings: or J changes in the specific shape, size and ma- Figure 1 represents a fragmentary side terials may be resorted to, in the construction elevation of an aeroplane constructed in the of this novel aeroplane construction without novel manner consistent with thepresent in-. departing from the spirit and scope of the vention. l invention as claimed hereinafter. 30 Figure2isarear elevation of the improved. Having described the-invention, what is aeroplane construction with the tail portion claimed as new is: I

thereof removed. 1. An aeroplane tail skid, comprising in Figure 3 is a plan View of the arm for combination, a rudder shaft, and a tail skid I rocking the rudder shaft. secured to the lower end thereof and adapted 5' Figure lis acollar for association with the to turn therewith, said skid consisting of a rudder shaft and steering lever. curved member, said curved member being Figure 5 .is a side elevationof a detail of connected at one end to the rudder shaft, a the novel skid. I leg pivotally connected at one end to one Referring to the drawings, wherein like end of the member, and a shock absorbing 40 numerals designate like parts, in'Figure 1, device interposed between the leg and the numeral 3 designates the rear portion of a said curved member. conventional aeroplane fuselage. In carry- 2. An aeroplane tail skid, comprisingavering out the present invention, the tail end tical shaft arranged within the tail portion portion of the fuselage is severed transverseof the usual aeroplane fuselage, means for 45v ly at the point 4', to permit access to theads rotating said shaft, a curved member secured jacently located vertical shaft 5, for conat one end to the lower end of the shaft, a trolling the aeroplane rudder. The rudder pivotal leg on said member, and shock absorbshaft '5 has a rocker arm 6 secured thereto, ing means associated with said pivotal leg. by collars 77. The cables 8 connect the 3! An aeroplane tail'skid comprising a tion of the usual aeroplane fuselage, means for rotating said shaft, a curved member secured at one end to the lower endof the shaft and a tensioned leg pivotally connected to the said member adapted to depend below the bottom side of the fuselage.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

LESTER GUY QUERRY, 

